Ball pitching device



3, 1955 ca. T. HORLICK BALL PITCHING DEVICE Filed March 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. -15 fio/e o/v 7. #024 /a( Dec. 13, 1955 Filed March 16, 1954 G. T. HORLICK BALL PITCHING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M5 A2706 A/EK United States Patent '0 BALL PITCHIN G DEVICE Gordon T. Horlick, Chicago, 111., assignor to Harry Williams Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 151., a corporation of Illinois Application March 16, 1954, Serial No. 416,521

7 Claims. (Cl. 12426) This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a ball pitching device for ball amusement game apparatus or the like and has for its principal object a device of this character which is simple in construction and economical in manufacture.

Another object of my invention is a provision in a ball amusement game apparatus or the like of a doublecam-operated ball projector which has a restricted but yet efiicient cycle of movement.

Still another object is a provision of a device of this character of a cocking and instant release mechanism which assures satisfaction of operation.

Yet another and equally important object of my invention is the provision in a device of the character of a simple and efficient recocking mechanism.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved ball projecting device;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of my invention showing the cam operated switch;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of my invention; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it is readily apparent that I associate my ball projector with a ball trough circular in part and through which a ball 11 is adapted to be projected.

Fig. 1 discloses my projector as being mounted on a support 12 and comprising two vertical parallel spaced apart walls 13 and 14. These walls 13 and 14 are provided with oppositely extending feet 13 and 14, which feet are attached to the support 12 in any suitable manner, such as by wood screws 15 as shown.

Positioned between these walls 13 and 14 and extending in a lateral direction with respect thereto and being partially exposed as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is a standard electric motor 16. This motor 16 is carried by a bracket 17 fastened in any suitable manner to the confronting sides of the walls 13 and 14. This bracket alsohouses a train of gears 18 which have direct driving connection with the motor 16.

Extending transversely through the walls 13 and 14 in substantially the center thereof is a driven shaft 19. This shaft 19 has driving connection with the train of gears 18 in any suitable manner well known in the art. To'one exposed end 20 of the shaft 19 and rotatable therewith is mounted a cam member 21. This cam 21 is in-spaced parallel relation to the wall 13 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. On the circumference of the cam member 21 on an imaginary diameter line drawn therethrough are formed notched out cam surfaces 22 and 22'. Carried by an L bracket 23 connected to the side Wall "ice 13 is a switch 24. This switch 24 comprises switch leaves 25 and 25' which are normally in open relation as shown in Fig. 2. Adjacent the point of connection of the switch 24 to the wall 13 is pivotally journaled on a laterally extending stud 26 a pawl 27. This pawl 27 has a portion 28 extending in the direction of the wall 13 and engageable in either of the cam surfaces 22 or 22. This portion 28 is adapted to ride upon the peripheral edge of the cam member '21 when the same is rotated with the shaft 19. This pawl 27 is provided with a tension spring 29 which is arranged to normally hold the portion 28 in engagement with the cam member 21 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The switch 24 is in circuit with a holding relay, not shown, and the arrangement is such that upon initial energization of the motor 16, the shaft 19, together with the cam member 21 will begin to rotate in a clockwise direction. Upon this rotation of the cam member 21 the pawl 27 will ride on the peripheral edge of the cam member 21 until it engages the notched out cam surfaces 22 or 22' as the case may be. When the pawl 27 rides on the peripheral edge of the cam member 21 the switch leaves 25 and 25' come into contact, thereby energizing the holding relay for the motor 16. The motor 16 is thus energized until the pawl 27 engages either of the cam surfaces 22 or 22, at which time the holding relay is deenergized by reason of the opening of the switch 24.

The opposite free end 30 of the shaft 19 extends beyond the wall 14. On the end 30 of the shaft 19 is mounted a ball engaging throwing arm 31 rotatable relative to the shaft 19. This arm 31 is held upon the shaft 19 by a washer 32 fixed to the shaft 19 by set screws 33. The ends of the arm 31 are adapted to successively engage a ball deposited into the trough 10 and throw the same therethrough out an opening onto a playing board, not shown.

Journaled on the shaft 19, adjacent the inner side of the arm 31 and connected thereto, is a bushing 34. This bushing 34 has its opposite end connected to a cam wheel 35. The cam wheel 35 is mounted on the shaft 19 for rotation relative thereto.

As the cam wheel 35 and arm 31 are connected together through the bushing 34 they are adapted to rotate together about the shaft 19. To insure this simultaneous rotation, the arm 31 and cam wheel 35 are further connected together by pins 36.

Between the cam wheel 35 and the wall 14 and carried by a bushing 37 journaled upon the shaft 19 is an actuating lever 38. This lever 38 and its bushing 37 are fixed to the shaft 19 and rotatable therewith in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1.

Embracing the bushing 37 is a coil spring 39. -This spring 39 has one end formed into a hook 40, which hook is connected to the lever 38 as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The other end of the spring 39 is also formed into a hooked portion 41 which is insertable in a preselected aperture 42 formed in the cam wheel 35. The arrangement is such that as the lever 38 rotates in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1-, the coiled tension of the spring 39 is increased.

To releasably hold the cam wheel 35 and the arm 31 from rotating while the spring 39 is being tensioned by rotation of the shaft 19, I provide latching pawls 43 and 44. These pawls are pivotally carried by laterally extending studs 45 and 45 respectively, secured to the Wall 14 and providing spacing bushings. The pawls 43 and 44 are provided with laterally extending portions 46 and 46' which are adapted to engage notches 47 and 48 formed in the peripheral edge of 'the wheel 35. The pawls 43 and 44 are each provided with a spring 49 and 50. The purpose of these springs 49 and 50 is to draw the pawls 43 and 44 in the direction of the cam wheel .35. .Thesprings 49 and 50 have their 0pposite ends connected to spring supporting studs 51 and 51' carried by the wall 14.

The pawls 43 and 44'have extending laterally therefrom and inparallel relation'tothe bushing 37 camrning pins 52 and 53. These pins 52 and 53 are positioned in the path of rotation of the lever 38 so that upon rotation thereof the tapered ends 54 and 54' of the lever .38 will at a preselected position engage the pins 52 and 53 and momentarily cause the pawls 43 and to be pivoted about their pivotal connection. The pivoting of the pawls 43 and 44 will cause the lateral portions 46 and 46 thereof to be disengaged from the notches 47 and 48. Upon such disengagement of the portions 46 and 46 with'the notches 47 and 48 respectively, the cam wheel 35 as well as the arm 31 will forcefully rotate in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 under the tension of the spring 39. However, the cam wheel 35 and arm 31 will rotate only one-half revolution. This by reason of the fact that the lateral extensions 46 and 46 of the pawls 43 and 44 will upon disengagement with the notches 47 and 48 ride upon the peripheral edge of the cam wheel 35 until they again engage the notches on the peripheral edge of the cam wheel 35.

It should be noted that the pins 52 and 53 are carried by their respective pawls 43 and 44 in different spaced relations with respect to the lateral extensions 46 and 46'. Also that the notches 47 and 48 are formed on different imaginary radiuses of the wheel 35. Under such an arrangement it is apparent that only one pawl will be actually holding the wheel 35 against rotation while the other pawl will be positioned in spaced relation to its respective notch. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, the extension 46 of the pawl 43 is in confronting relation with the notch 47 of the cam wheel 35 while the extension 46 of the pawl 44 is in spaced relation to the notched-out portion 48. With the pins 52 and 53 in different distant relations to the extensions 46 and 46 it is apparent that as the lever 38 rotates, it will engage one before the other and in the case as shown in Fig. 1, the lever 38 will engage the pin 52 before it will engage the pin 53. Under such an arrangement the initial pivoting of the pawl 53 out of the notch 47 will act as a cocking movement permitting the wheel 35 to rotate a limited distance or until the pawl 44 with its extension 46' engages within the cam notch 48. Upon further rotation of the shaft 19 and the lever 38, the pawl 44 is caused to pivot out of such engagement and the wheel 35 and the arm 31 under tension of the spring 39 is caused to rapidly rotate in a clockwise direction one-half a revolution or until the pawl 43 with its extension 46 engages the notched-out cam surface presented to it by rotation of the wheel 35.

.It isdesired to have the cocking function as described above as the action or rotation of the wheel 35 and arm 31 is of such speed that if both pawls 4-3 and 44 were moved simultaneously out of holding position, the wheel would rotate with such force that it would either miss relocking or cause such striking pressure upon both'pawls that they would quickly wear out andrequire replacement. Without such an arrangement the wheel 35 rnightalso be caused to over spin, thus pro pelling more than one ball onto the playing field.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carryin my invention into elfect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desired to avail myseif of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A ball projecting device comprising a mounting structure providing spaced apart parallel walls, a ball projecting runway adjacent one of said walls, a shaft rotatably journalled through and extending beyond said walls, an electric motor supported by and between said spaced walls and having driving connection with said shaft, an arm mounted .on one end of said shaft for rotation relative thereto and having an end portion extending into said runway to engage a ball therein for projecting said ballthrough said runway in the direction of rotation of the arm, a cam wheel mounted on said shaft adjacent said arm for rotation relative to said shaft, means connecting said arm and said wheel together for rotation relative to said shaft, holding means pivotally carried by said one of said walls and engageable with the cam wheel for holding the cam wheel and said arm against rotation with the shaft, means rotatable with said shaft and engageable with said holding means for releasing said holding means to permit rotation of said carn wheel and said arm relative to said shaft at a speed greater than the rotation of said shaft, and means having operative connection with the shaft and said cam wheel for rotating said cam wheel and said arm at said greater speed upon release of said holding means by said releasing means.

2. A ball projecting device comprising a mounting structure, a ball projecting runway adjacent said structure, a shaft rotatably carried by said structure, an electric motor supported by said structure and having driving connection with said shaft, an arm mounted on one end of said shaft for rotation relative thereto and having an end portion extending into said runway to engage a ball therein for projecting said ball through said runway in the direction of rotation of the arm, a cam wheel mounted on said shaft adjacent said arm for rotation relative to said shaft, means connecting said arm and said wheel together for rotation relative to said shaft, holding means pivotaily carried by said structure and engageable with the cam wheel for holding the cam wheel and said arm against rotation with the shaft, means rotatable with said shaft and engageable with said holding means for releasing said holding means to permit rotation of said cam wheel and said arm relative to said shaft at a speed greater than the rotation of said shaft, and means having operative connection with the shaft and said cam wheel for rotating said cam wheel and said arm at said greater speed upon release of said arm and said cam wheel from said holding means by said releasing means.

3. A ball projecting device comprising a mounting structure providing spaced apart parallel walls, a ball projecting runway adjacent one of said walls, a shaft rotatably journalled through and extending beyond said walls, an electric motor supported by and between said spaced walls and having driving connection with said shaft, an arm mounted on one end of said shaft for rotation relative thereto and having an end portion extending into said runway to engage a ball therein for projecting said ball through said runway in the direction of rotation of the arm, a cam wheel mounted on said shaft adjacent said arm for rotation relative to said shaft, means connecting said arm and said wheel together for rotation relative to said shaft, holding means pivotally carried by said one of said walls and engageable with the cam Wheel for holding the cam wheel and said arm against rotation with the shaft, means rotatable with said shaft and engageable with said holding means for releasing said holding means to permit rotation of said cam wheel and said arm relative to said shaft at a speed greater than the rotation of said shaft, and spring means having operative connection with the shaft and said cam wheel and tensioned by rotation of said shaft for rotating'said cam wheel and said aim at said greater'speed upon release of said holding means by said releasing-means.

4. A ball projecting device comprising a mounting'structure providing spaced apart parallel walls, a ball projecting runway adjacent one 'of said'walls, a shaft rotatably journaled through and extending beyond said walls, an electric motor supported by and between said spaced walls and having driving connection with said shaft, an arm mounted on one end of said shaft for rotation relative thereto and having an end portion extending into said runway to engage a ball therein for projecting said ball through said runway in the direction of rotation of the arm, a cam wheel mounted on said shaft adjacent said arm for rotation relative to said shaft and having means providing connection with said arm, spring-urged pawi members pivotally carried by said one of said walls and having latched engagement with the cam wheel for holding the cam wheel and said arm against rotation with the shaft, a cam lever carried by and rotatable with said shaft and engageable with said pawl members for releasing said pawl members from the cam wheel to permit rotation of said cam wheel and said arm relative to said shaft at a speed greater than the rotation of said shaft, and means having operative connection with the shaft and said cam wheel for rotating said cam wheel and said arm at said greater speed upon release of said pawl members by said cam lever.

5. A ball projecting device comprising a mounting structure, a ball projecting runway adjacent said structure, a shaft rotatably carried by said structure, driving means supported by said structure and having driving connection with said shaft, an arm mounted on one end of said shaft for rotation relative thereto and having opposite end portions extending into said runway to engage a ball therein for projecting said ball through said runway in the direction of rotation of the arm, a cam wheel mounted on said shaft adjacent said arm for rotation relative to said shaft and having means providing connection with said arm, spring-urged pawl members pivotally carried by said structure on opposite sides of said shaft and having latched engagement with said cam wheel for holding the cam wheel and said arm against rotation with the shaft, a cam lever carried by and rotatable with said shaft and engageable with said pawl members for releasing said pawl members from the cam wheel to permit rotation of said cam wheel and said arm relative to said shaft at a speed greater than the rotation of said shaft, and spring means having operative connection with the shaft and said cam wheel and tensioned by rotation of said shaft for rotating said cam wheel and said arm at said greater speed upon release of said pawl members by said cam lever.

6. A ball projecting device comprising a mounting structure, a ball runway adjacent said structure, a shaft rotatably carried by said structure, driving means carried by said structure for said shaft, an elongated arm carried by said shaft for rotation relative thereto and extending laterally from opposite sides thereof and having end portions adapted to move into said runway to project a ball therefrom, a cam disc carried by said shaft for rotation relative thereto and having connection with said arm for rotation therewith, said disc having diametrically opposed notches formed therein, a pair of pawls arranged in opposed relation with respect to each other and pivotally carried by said structure and adapted to have latched engagement with said notches for holding said Wheel and said arm against rotation, at releasing arm carried by and rotatable with said shaft and having end portions extending from opposite sides thereof and engageable with said pawls to disengage said pawls from said notches, and a spring member embracing said shaft and having one end portion connected to said releasing arm and an opposite end portion connected to said cam disc and adapted to be placed under tension by rotation of said shaft to rotate said elongated arm and said cam disc simultaneously in advance of the rotation of said shaft when said cam disc is released from latched engagement with said pawls by said releasing arm.

7. A ball projecting device comprising a mounting structure, a ball runway adjacent said structure, a shaft rotatably carried by said structure, an electric motor carried by said structure for said shaft, an elongated arm carried by said shaft for rotation relative thereto and extending laterally from opposite sides thereof and having end portions adapted to move into said runway to project a ball therefrom, a cam disc carried by said shaft for rotation relative thereto and having connection with said arm for rotation therewith, said disc having diametrically opposed notches formed therein, a pair of spring-urged pawls arranged in opposed relation with respect to each other and pivotally carried by said structure and adapted to have latched engagement with said notches for holding said wheel and said arm against rotation, a releasing arm carried by and rotatable with said shaft and having end portions extending from opposite sides thereof and engageable with said pawls to successively disengage said pawls from said notches, and a spring member embracing said shaft and-having one end portion connected to said releasing arm and an opposite end portion connected to said cam disc and adapted to be placed under tension by rotation of said shaft to rotate said elongated arm and said cam disc simultaneously in advance of the rotation of said shaft when said cam disc is released from latched engagement with said pawls by said releasing arm.

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the file of this patent 2,192,608 Butterworth Mar. 5, 1940 2,325,858 Kellermann Aug. 3, 1943 2,494,248 Koppin Jan. 10, 1950 2,530,526 Keller Nov. 21, 1950 2,660,157 Binks Nov. 24, 1953 2,660,158 Bink-s Nov. 24, 1953 

